The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23

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further explanation.
81 do not care to listen to recital of Mrs.
Mack's accomplishments or virtues," criet
Doris, with passionate resentment unlik
| the Doris he knew-'she and are thor
oughly antagonissic It does not matte
| though" she said, with q sudden half pa
thetic change of voice and msnner-''w,
| shall not trouble each other in the future
Ill have accepted an offer received to
4; day and shall no longer be dependent OF
your-bounty"
Though stricken to the heart DR. Blak,
was too proud to make any sign HI
waited . moment for Doris to explain
further, but Doris was dumb. Could HI
have seen her quivering lips he might havs
known the reason.
II hope you may be happy in your new
lie, Doris" II cost DR. Blake o tremen.
drus effort to say thia Too well he knew
thu weak will and vacillating purpose Of
his nephew, who would never succeed In
his calling, simply from lack of energy and
application. And this was the man who
hal won his pretty ward!
Thank you" said Doris in low tone
Brit as she suddenly lifted her Deep shcrr
ey.s to his own, what was 1t that, for one
brief moment, he fancied he saw in theil
inscrutable depths?
All the self-repressed passion of his nat
ure rose suddenly to the surface. For the
first time in his years Of guardianship. Dr..
Paul Blake forgot to hold himself in check.
Crossing the space between them with a
single stride. DR.. Blake seized both Doris
small hands in his own:
Doris, my Darlington it lie possiblel"
he exclaimed, in half bewiderment
Aad his voice, as well as the love-light
shining from his eyes, supplied what was
lacking of further speech
A food of tell-tale crimson suffussd the
fair girls brow, checks and neck
How dare you'll hate you, DE- Blake"
she impetuously cred, in the same breath
And wrenching herself from his OBTAINING
grasp. Doris. hiding her hot face in her
hands. burst into an agony of weeping
Well would dismayci DR.. Blake have de-
sired to kiss away her tears, as when Doris
YVES a tiny maiden. But-she hated him;
that settled it Exhaling sigh, which
seemed to come from his boot-sOles the
doctor turned. and made his way hastily
down stains Doris waited till the echo of
his footsteps had died away; then, drying
her eyes on a diminutive handkerchief, she
stamped her small foot with considerable
energy
Il am nothing but young TOOL she
said, with an unconscious echo of similar
admission on DR. Blake's Fart a little be-
fore The adject;ves only being changed
Removing the cloth from the partly
pleted portrait Doris seized her palette
and with the ghost of a tender smile OH her
Quiverfng lips fell to painting with nervous
has.e
sImust finish it before New Years." she
said to herself And resolutely crowding
down her emotions, Doris worked steadily
till dinner time
To her relief DR. Blake was absent max
ing his professional round. Mrs Mack
glanced at the traces of recent tears on
Doris pale cheek with il!-concealed tri-
umph as the yoang girl, bending over her
plate, made pretense of eating
sThe Doctor says you're thinking of leav-
ing us, smoothly remarked the widow, after
vainly waiting for Doris to break the
silence
$Yes. was the cOldly monosyllabic reply.
well, may be it's for the best" responded
Mira Mack, steadily cycling her shrinking
victim, sfor naturally you don't feel like
being behOlden to any one lOnger'n you can
help, though as PAUL. mean the Doctor
says he didn't mind the extra expense while
he was single with only himself to care for.
But now. why"
Here Mrs Mack checked herself and coyly
dropped her eyes to the table Goth, u corner
IF which she was plating between her
fingers in seeming confusion.
Neither DE- Blake or yourself need fear
being burdened with me much longer, re-
piled Doris, with quiet scom And as she
rose and lett the room, Mrs Mack smiled
unpleasantiy.
"One Of us viii leave, Tut it won't be
Althea Mack, she remarx ed in triumphant
confidence, to herself But this remains to
be seen
Slowly the old year dragged his tagging
footsters toward the portal where the New
Year child stood impatiently awaiting the
departure of his near.y WORKOUT pred
eceseor. Doris, cold and silent, saw but
little of her guardian, who, far graver and
more pre-Occupied than was his wont,
silently noted the frequent comings and
goings OF bis nephew, who as far MS possible
seemed to shrink from an interview
Dr. Blake waited from day to day with a
vain hope that Doris might some to him
with her confidence as in other days But
the young girl painted steadily at the un-
finished portrait for which according to
Mrs Mack-h:s nephew Paul was "scttin,"
and DE- Blake never again intruded himself
ON their presence.
1t was the last evening of the old year.
Dr.. Blake. thoroughly tired out by an un-
usually hard days WORK, was sitting In his
office library looking absently into the open
fireplace where the flames were dancing q
weird measure in fantastic time to the voice
Of the winter wind in the old-fashioned,
chimney.
Bob, the office 10y. stood in q back ground
of shadow awaiting the Doctors commands
Tor tho morrow. vaguely wondering what
had come over his usually genial employer
Of late
Nay be it's as folks says-that Mis-
Aacks bound to marry him whether he's
within or not. soliioquized Bob: -and if he's
fea'rd of thai, don't wonder he's down in |
,he mouth
But all unconscious of his Office boys |
anxiety in his behalf, Dr Blake sat with |
1alf-closed eyes in the semi obscurity, for |
'lnhead OF flame from gas jet at the rear |
md the blaze of the wood fire itself alone |
,elieved the darkness Of the room
A rustic cs of woman's dress caused the |
Doctor to give a sudden start. At las. Doris |
lad come
Dreaming of your lady love, DOCTOR"
Alas the voice, Stimulating an archness en-
arely foreign to the speaker. was that Of |
In Aack, who. arrayed as for conquest, ad-
Tanced into the circle of freight and care
sssly placed rather shapely foot ON the
ender
well, yes" was the absent reply For
h Blake. who. in addition to an unusually
aboricus day, had been up with danger
us case nearly all the night before, was in
hat curious state between waking and
lseptng. when men see v;sions and dream